Silane grafting and crosslinking of ethylene-octene copolymer

Vinyl trimethoxysilane (VTMS) and vinyl triethoxysilane (VTES) grafted ethylene-octene copolymer (POE) were prepared in the melt process. The effects of silane concentration, reaction time and temperature on the silane grafting were investigated, and the grafting reaction was in situ monitored using the differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The silane grafted POE was characterized by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and melt flow index (MFI). MFI data of the silane grafted POE show that the MFI value is affected not only by DCP concentration, but also by silane concentration. The difference of gel content between VTMS and VTES crosslinked POE indicates that for POE, the grafting reaction activity of VTES is higher than that of VTMS. Moreover, the thermal behavior and mechanical properties of the crosslinked POE were also studied. It has been found that the thermal stability and mechanical properties of the silane crosslinked POE are greatly improved.     

硅烷气相接枝水解交联聚丙烯

硅烷气相接枝水解交联聚丙烯;聚丙烯;气相接枝;硅烷交联     

Grafting of silica during the processing of silica‐filled SBR: Comparison between length and content of the silane

The treatment of nanoscopic silica grafted in the blend during the processing of silica‐filled styrene butadiene rubber was performed with silane, introduced at different concentrations, or at a constant concentration with a given length of alkyl chain. From swelling measurements in water and in solvent, the maximum silane content that can be grafted has been calculated as a function of the length of the silane alkyl chains as well as their efficiency to cover the silica surface. The found values are close to the values found in the literature for grafting in solution. Moreover, a direct correspondence between the length of the silane alkyl chains and their concentration has been deduced. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 143–152, 2006     

Rheological and thermal behavior of PLA modified by chemical crosslinking in the presence of ethoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylates

Crosslinking structures can be partly introduced into PLA by melt mixing in a twin screw extruder with dicumyl peroxide (DCP) and ethoxylated bisphenol A dimethacrylates (Bis‐EMAs) as a crosslinking coagent. The study of DCP and Bis‐EMA contents on the melt rheology, thermal properties, dynamic mechanical properties and morphology of the reactive extruded pellets is presented. The results show that PLA with a DCP content higher than 3 phr exhibits increases in both the melt modulus and complex viscosity as compared with PLA. The introduction of DCP into PLA improved the thermal stability of the PLA. PLAs with various Bis‐EMA contents showed the optimum storage modulus and complex viscosity to occur at 5 phr Bis‐EMAs. Moreover, the glass transition, cold crystallization and melting temperature of PLAs decreased with increasing Bis‐EMA content. The crystallinity of the partly crosslinked PLAs was lower than that of PLA. Similar to the rheological results, the thermo‐mechanical properties showed that the storage modulus and loss modulus of the partly crosslinked PLAs increased with increasing Bis‐EMA contents up to 5 phr. In addition, these partly crosslinked PLAs showed rough surface or sea island‐like structure. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Intumescent flame retardation and silane crosslinking of PP/EPDM elastomer

This study deals with the silane crosslinking and intumescent flame retardation of polypropylene/ethylene‐propylene‐diene copolymer (PP/EPDM) elastomers. The effect of silane crosslinking on the flame retardancy of the PP/EPDM composites containing melamine phosphate (MP) and dipentaerythritol (DPER) was studied by limiting oxygen index, UL 94 and cone calorimetry tests. The chemical composition of the silane crosslinked and flame retarded PP/EPDM composites treated at different temperatures was studied by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and real time Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry. Thermal decomposition and crystallization behavior of the PP/EPDM composites were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry, respectively. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the composites were also studied. It is found that the flame retardancy, mechanical properties, and thermal decomposition behavior of the composites are influenced by silane grafting and crosslinking. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Swelling Behavior of pH-Sensitive Copolymers Containing 2-Acrylamido-2-Methyl Propane Sulfonic Acid and Acrylic Acid Crosslinked with Vinyl Trimethoxy Silane Crosslinker

Copolymers of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid and acrylic acid were crosslinked in the presence of different mol% of either vinyl trimethoxy silane (VTMS) as the crosslinking agent under acidic conditions or N,N-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as crosslinker using solution radical polymerization. The resultant xerogels were characterized by extracting the soluble fractions and measuring the equilibrium water content. Soluble fractions of the crosslinked networks were reduced by varying the MBA and VTMS concentrations. The surface morphology of the crosslinked polymers was observed by scanning electron microscope. The influence of pH on the swelling behavior of gels was investigated. The swelling behaviors of the resulting gels show pH sensitivity.     

Structural comparison of products from peroxide‐initiated grafting of vinylsilane and silane‐functionalized nitroxyl to hydrocarbon and polyolefin substrates

It has been demonstrated that peroxide‐initiated grafting of vinylsilanes to polyethylene results in a nonuniform distribution of silane groups on the polymer chain due to a chain‐transfer mechanism, leading to inefficient utilization of silane with respect to gel fraction in a crosslinked material. In this article, we demonstrate that grafting a nitroxyl free radical that contains a silane functional group gives a more uniform distribution of silane functionality. Model compounds were synthesized by grafting a silane‐functionalized TEMPO derivative and a vinylsilane to cyclooctane, and their structures were compared. The product grafted with vinyltriethoxysilane consisted of essentially all multigrafted product with an average of 2.26 silane grafts per cyclooctane molecule, which is in close agreement with published data, while the product of grafting the silane‐functional nitroxyl consisted of only the monografted species; no multigrafted product was detected. This confirms that grafting a silane‐functionalized nitroxyl occurs via bimolecular combination of free radicals that is not affected by chain‐transfer and suggests that the process may lead to more efficient utilization of silane as indicated by higher gel fraction for a given level of grafted silane. Synthetic work to prepare silane‐functionalized TEMPO derivatives and preliminary studies to graft them to polyolefins are discussed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4542–4555, 2008     

Chemically stable hybrid polymer electrolyte membranes prepared by radiation grafting,sulfonation, and silane‐crosslinking techniques

To prepare a crosslinked hybrid polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) with high chemical stability, a silane monomer, namely p‐styryltrimethoxysilane (StSi), was first grafted to poly(ethylene‐co‐tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) film by γ‐ray preirradiation. Hydrolysis‐condensation and sulfonation were then performed on the StSi‐grafted ETFE (StSi‐g‐ETFE) films to give them crosslinks and proton conductibility, respectively. Thus, a crosslinked proton‐conducting hybrid PEM was obtained. The crosslinks introduced by the silane‐condensation have an inorganic ? Si? O? Si? structure, which enhance the chemical and thermal stabilities of the PEM. The effect of the timing of the hydrolysis‐condensation (before or after sulfonation) and the sulfonation method (by chlorosulfonic acid or H₂SO₄) on the properties of the resulting hybrid PEMs such as ion‐exchange capacity, proton conductivity, water uptake, chemical stability, and methanol permeability were investigated to confirm their applicability in fuel cells. We conclude that the properties of the new crosslinked hybrid StSi‐grafted PEMs are superior to divinylbenzene (DVB)‐crosslinked styrene‐grafted membranes. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 5559–5567, 2008     

交联方法对交联聚乙烯结晶行为的影响

研究了硅烷交联聚乙烯和过氧化物交联聚乙烯由于结晶和交联的顺序不同而造成的结晶行为的差异，交联密度相同时，过氧化物交联聚乙烯的结晶度和熔点明显低于硅烷交联聚乙烯，交联聚烯非等温结晶动力学表明：交联前后聚乙烯的Ａｖｒａｍｉ指数ｎ基本不变，交联后，半结晶期ｔ１／２延长、结晶速率常数ＺＣ下降，其中过氧化物交联聚乙烯的变化幅度大于硅烷交联聚乙烯。     

Peroxide-initiated vinylsilane grafting: Structural studies on a hydrocarbon substrate

The peroxide-initiated grafting of vinyltrimethoxysilane (VTMS) onto dodecane has been examined as a model for grafting onto polyethylene. At 160°C, 2% v/v VTMS and 0.08% v/v initiator, the monomer was grafted onto dodecane with a 59% conversion and an average of 2.37 VTMS grafts per dodecane. These values were obtained by separation of the grafted material through reduced pressure distillation then characterization with FTIR and NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and gel permeation chromatography. NMR studies strongly indicate that the multiple grafts consist predominantly of multiple single grafts rather than homopolymer grafts. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 35 : 3517–3525, 1997     

Effect of silane coupling agent on the polymer‐filler interaction and mechanical properties of silica‐filled NR

The effects of filler loading and a new silane coupling agent 3‐octanoylthio‐1‐ propyltriethoxysilane (NXT silane) on the polymer‐filler interaction and mechanical properties of silica‐filled and carbon black‐filled natural rubber (NR) compounds were studied. Silica (high dispersion silica7000GR, VN2, and VN3) and carbon black (N330) were used as the fillers, and the loading range was from 0 to 50 phr. The loading of NXT silane was from 0 to 6 phr. Experimental results show that the maximum and minimum torques of silica and carbon black‐filled NR increase with increasing filler loading. With increasing filler loading, the scorch time and optimum cure time decrease for carbon black‐filled NR, but increase for silica‐filled NR. The minimum torque, scorch time, and optimum cure time decrease because of the presence of NXT silane. For the carbon black and silica‐filled NR, the tensile strength and elongation at break have maximum values, but the hardness, M300, M100, and tear strength keep increasing with filler loading. The mechanical properties of silica‐filled NR were improved in the presence of NXT silane. With increasing filler loading, the storage modulus of filled NR increases, but the loss factor decreases. Carbon black shows the strongest polymer‐filler interaction, followed by VN3, 7000GR, and VN2. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 573–584, 2005     

Emulsion Copolymerization of Vinyl Acetate and Vinyl Silanes: Kinetics and Development of Microstructure

The batch emulsion copolymerization of vinyl acetate with different vinyl silane functional monomers (vinyl trimethoxysilane [VTMS], vinyl triethoxysilane [VTES], and vinyl silanetriol [VSTO]) is studied. The nature of the silane strongly affects the development of the microstructure and crosslinking ability of the latexes. A combination of techniques (Soxhlet extraction, centrifugation, assymetric‐flow field flow fractionation AF4/MALS/RI) shows that the factor controlling the molar mass and crosslinking density is the degree of hydrolysis of the alkoxysilane, producing higher molar masses and degrees of crosslinking when the degree of hydrolysis is high. Thus, the copolymer containing VSTO produced a very crosslinked latex, the one with VTMS produced a latex with a low degree of crosslinking in the wet state that can yield high degrees of crosslinking upon drying, and the latex with VTES do not produce significant amounts of crosslinking neither before nor after drying.     

Synthesis of polyethylene oxide graft polysilylenes and networks based on poly(di‐n‐pentylsilylene/n‐pentyloct‐7‐enyl) copolymers

Poly(dipentylsilylene) copolymers containing n‐pentyl‐n‐oct‐7‐enylsilane units were prepared by reductive coupling of the corresponding dichlorosilanes. Linear high molecular weight and some crosslinked polymer were obtained. The soluble products exhibited optical and thermal properties like poly(dipentylsilylene). Differential scanning calorimetry was used to investigate crystallization and to monitor thermal crosslinking. Vinyl functionalized side chains were hydrosilylated with dipentylsilane and dimethylchlorosilane and crosslinked via the side chains. Hydrosilylation with di‐n‐pentyl(trimethylsiloxypropyl)silane led to a partial hydroxy functionalization of the polysilylene and enabled anionic PEO grafting of the poly(dipentylsilylene). © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 2306–2318, 2000     

Quantifying the elasticity and viscosity of geometrically confined polymer films via thermal wrinkling

We apply thermal wrinkling, which is a surface instability that occurs during thermal annealing of polymer films geometrically confined by a rigid substrate and a flexible superstrate, to study the elasticity and viscosity of chemically crosslinked polymer systems. Specifically, we study the thermal wrinkling of aluminum‐capped polyhydroxystyrene films with different extent of chemical crosslinking and find that that the rate of change of the wrinkling wavelength with annealing time and temperature has unique relationships with the elasticity and viscosity of the polymer network. With the aid of analytical expressions that relate the time‐ and temperature‐dependent evolution of the wrinkle wavelength to the elasticity and viscosity, we are able to quantify the elastic modulus and shear viscosity of geometrically confined polymer thin films as a function of the degree of crosslinking. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012     

多官能团单体对马来酸酐接枝聚丙烯流变行为的影响

研究了多官能团辅助单体偏苯三酸三丙烯酯(TATM)对马来酸酐接枝聚丙烯的熔体流动速率(MFR)和流变行为的影响.当以不含抗氧剂的聚丙烯粉料为原料时,TATM的加入对稳定接枝产物MFR的效果并不理想.但将聚丙烯粉料添加抗氧剂并造粒后,TATM的加入则可有效稳定体系的MFR,各种流变曲线显示出接枝产物的熔体弹性明显提高,说明有枝化或交联结构出现.针对PP粉料和粒料间接枝产物流变行为存在的重大差异,结合熔体自由基接枝反应的机理进行了解释.TATM能够起到稳定MFR的效果是由于其提高了接枝物的熔体弹性,从而抵消了聚丙烯熔体接枝反应中所不可避免的β断链所造成的剪切黏度下降.聚丙烯粉料和粒料中抗氧剂的差异对聚丙烯的加工降解有严重影响,造成了TATM在不同聚丙烯体系中效果的差异.     

Acrylic polymer/silica organic–inorganic hybrid emulsions for coating materials: Role of the silane coupling agent

Acrylic polymer/silica organic–inorganic hybrid emulsions were synthesized by a simple method, that is, a conventional emulsion polymerization and subsequent sol–gel process, to provide water‐based coating materials. The acrylic polymer emulsions contained a silane coupling agent monomer, such as methacryloxypropyltriethoxysilane, to form highly solvent‐resistant hybrid films. On the other hand, the hybrid films from the surface‐modified polymer emulsions, in which the silane coupling agent was located only on the surface of the polymer particles and the particle core was not crosslinked, did not exhibit high solvent resistance. A honeycomblike array structure, which was derived from the polymer particles (diameter ≈ 50 nm) and the silica domain, on the hybrid film surfaces was observed by atomic force microscopy. The crosslinked core part and silane coupling agent containing the shell part of the polymer particles played important roles in attaining high solvent resistance. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4736–4742, 2006     

Influence of the crosslink network structure on stress‐relaxation behavior: Viscoelastic modeling of the compression set experiment

A viscoelastic approach of the compression set test is addressed in this work. This test measures the ability of rubber compounds to retain elastic properties after prolonged action of compressive stresses. Elastic properties were tested by recording the normal stress under a constant deformation of 25% with a laboratory rheometer. Considering the Boltzmann superposition principle, compression set data were modeled from the relaxation of Young's modulus, described by a Maxwell spectrum plus a constant E_∞ defining the elastic properties at the long times. This approach was developed with the copolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate (EVA) networks crosslinked by radical chemistry and by an exchange reaction between acetate groups and silane compounds as crosslinking agents. Regarding the recovery of the elastic properties, radical chemistry provided better results than the exchange reaction for the identical crosslinking density of the network. Then, the Curro–Pincus molecular approach was developed to understand the influence of the microstructure of the EVA network on the elastic properties. The difference of the elastic properties between the two networks crosslinked by two different chemistry means was accounted for by considering the probability of having a dangling end of n units for a random crosslinking process. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 41: 1779–1790, 2003     

Strain-hardening modulus of cross-linked glassy poly(methyl methacrylate)

The strain hardening modulus, defined as the slope of the increasing stress with strain during large strain uniaxial plastic deformation, was extracted from a recently proposed constitutive model for the finite nonlinear viscoelastic deformation of polymer glasses, and compared to previously published experimental compressive true stress versus true strain data of glassy crosslinked poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The model, which treats strain hardening predominantly as a viscous process, with only a minor elastic contribution, agrees well with the experimentally observed dependence of the strain hardening modulus on strain rate and crosslink density in PMMA, and, in addition, predicts the well-known decrease of the strain hardening modulus in polymer glasses with temperature. General scaling aspects of continuum modeling of strain hardening behavior in polymer materials are also presented. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 48: 1464–1472, 2010     

马来酸酐-苯乙烯熔融接枝聚丙烯的影响因素及其性能研究

用单螺杆挤出机制备了马来酸酐 (MAH) 苯乙烯 (St)对聚丙烯 (PP)的多组分单体自由基熔融接枝体系 .研究证实了当两种单体物质的量比约为 1∶1时 ,接枝物的接枝率最高 ,而熔体流动速率 (MFR)最大 .对反应体系影响因素的研究表明单体用量和引发剂用量对不同单体用量比的系列接枝物的接枝率会产生不同的影响 ;另外 ,单体用量增加 ,接枝物的MFR减小 ,过氧化二异丙苯 (DCP)用量增加 ,接枝物的MFR增加 .对多单体熔融接枝聚丙烯PP g (MAH co St)的力学性能研究发现 ,选用合适的单体用量比、单体用量和DCP用量时 ,所制备的接枝物可具有与纯PP相当或更佳的力学性能     

Peroxide-Initiated crosslinking of styrene-grafted polymers and copolymers of butadiene

Low molecular weight polymers and copolymers of butadiene were grafted with styrene. The graft products were then crosslinked by using dicumyl peroxide as initiator. The optimum peroxide concentration was established (5 phr). Infrared analysis showed that the reactivity of 1,2-vinyl and that of 1,4-trans double bonds in styrene-grafted polybutadiene is similar. Crosslinking of the graft product seems to involve a radical-chain polymerization of double bonds in the polymer. The reaction rate is proportional to the square root of peroxide concentration and to the concentration of polymer double bonds. Activation energy, reaction heat, reaction order, and crosslinking efficiency were also determined from DSC measurements. No relation was found between the activation energy of crosslinking and the molecular weight of backbone polymer or density of grafting. Crosslinking efficiency was to 25–50 crosslinks per molecule of decomposed peroxide. The crosslinking efficiency for grafted butadiene–styrene copolymers is somewhat lower than that for grafted polybutadienes. From thermogravimetric measurements it was found that the crosslinked grafted polymers show lower resistance to thermal degradation than ungrafted polymers.